Govt approves game changing €3.4 million tourism development for Kerry – Griffin

Fine Gael Kerry TD, Brendan Griffin, has today (Thursday) warmly welcomed €3.4 million in funding announced by the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Alan Kelly TD, to allow for the development of a cycling and walking greenway along the old railway line from Glenbeigh to Cahersiveen/Renard in Co. Kerry.

“This funding announcement presents a huge tourism opportunity for south Kerry. Similar greenways, such as the Westport to Achill Greenway in Mayo, generate many millions of euro for the local economy annually and support hundreds of jobs.

“Over the years, I have consistently and robustly lobbied for this development since my first days on Kerry County Council and since entering the Dáil in 2011, and I am very excited that funding has now been made available to progress efforts.

“I acknowledge the hard work and dedication of Joe McCrohan of South Kerry Development Partnership (SKDP) and their Agricultural Working Group and Kerry County Council in reaching this stage. I thank Minister Kelly for giving his approval to this project, which he is personally very supportive of and excited about. I also acknowledge the full support of my colleagues, Cllr. PJ Donovan and Cllr. Matt Griffin.

“A lot of work, consensus and agreement remains outstanding to bring the greenway to fruition and I hope that progress can be made on this soon, in the interest of grasping this unprecedented opportunity for everyone in South Kerry.

“The closure of the Farranfore to Valentia Harbour Railway line in 1960 was a hammer blow to the people of mid and south Kerry. The reopening of this route as a greenway would be powerfully symbolic and, more importantly, practically beneficial to the local economy and the people of the area.”

ENDS